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Monday, January 20, 2014

5 Days of {My} Homeschooling Essentials: Flexibility

Every homeschool has "the essentials" that they need for the day to run smoothly. You know, the perfect curricula, the schedule, the necessary school supplies, the support network . . . all those things that keep mom sane and kids happy. This week the Schoolhouse Review Crew is doing a 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials blog hop, where we share those things that we feel are essential to our homeschool. So if you're feeling like you're in a rut or need to reevaluate, now might be a good time to see how others keep their homeschool running.

The first and most important thing I need for our homeschool is flexibility. I can plan, research, schedule, and plan some more, but things happen, interests change, learning takes a life of its own. I can predict how my child will react to a curriculum or a book, but I could predict wrong. I cannot control the weather the day we have an outdoor field trip. The library may not have the book I need. The internet may go out for several days. Things happen. Needs change. I have to be able to react and adapt.

Flexibility allows us to change our schedule for an impromptu trip.

Flexibility allows us to adjust our reading list.

Flexibility allows us to review for the Schoolhouse Review Crew without neglecting other areas of our education.

Flexibility allows us to take nature walks instead of reading about trees in a science book.

Flexibility allows me to change paths when necessary, to open new doors, to follow the spark and light the fire.

Flexibility allows me to challenge my child, and challenge myself.

Flexibility allows us to stop the "work" and cultivate hearts when necessary.

Over the next four days, I am going to share with you the slightly more tangible essentials of our homeschool, but none of those would matter if I couldn't be flexible. The last six months have seen a lot of changes in my mindset, and that is where I have had to be most flexible. Remember the challenge thing I just mentioned? Finding our path has been by trial and error, and not without a few missteps, but because I am open to change, the transition has been, for the most part, fairly painless. I don't submit to being a stretch-Armstrong, but my flexibility has presented opportunities we might have otherwise missed if I was a by-the-books person. Yes, flexibility is essential to me.

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